City commissioner 'blackmailed for years' by her boss after he learned that she sent naked pictures of herself to her COUSIN

A local Florida politician prompted a blackmailing investigation after she sent naked pictures of herself to her cousin.

Marlene Ross, a city commissioner in Boynton Beach, admitted that she was in a romantic relationship with her married first cousin, during which she sent him nude pictures of herself via Facebook.

Since sending the photos in late 2010, she has spent the last two years in fear that they would surface and feels that she has been repeatedly blackmailed by her superiors who allegedly threatened her into voting certain ways for fear of the publication of the pictures.

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Torrid affair: Marlene Ross (left) admitted to investigators that she and her cousin Rogelio Vera (right), who is a convicted felon, had a romantic relationship and she sent him naked pictures of herself

The Palm Beach Post published an article detailing the investigation into the inappropriate lobbying that Ms Ross was subjected by former commissioner David Katz who made veiled threats about the photographs.

She decided to go public with the situation after she had been repeatedly interviewed by state officials over the illegal pressuring she faced, but during which she also revealed the nature of her relationship with her cousin.

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'I had had enough of the bullying. During what was a very sensitive time for my family, I regret sending a private message which concerned only my personal life,' she told The Palm Beach Post.

'I was glad to be able to expose what I knew to the State Attorney. Unfortunately, the State Attorney was unable to file charges in this case; however, at a minimum these self-serving and sinister individuals are exposed for their despicable actions.'

Public official: Ms Ross was recently re-elected to her second term as a commissioner of Boynton Beach, Florida and she claims her boss repeatedly threatened her on votes using the naked photos as blackmail

On record: Ms Ross (right) told investigators that even though she knew it was wrong, she pursued a romantic relationship with Vera (left) even though he was her cousin and he was married

Just over two weeks ago, Ms Ross was
questioned by an investigator in the state attorney's office who made
her go into detail about her decision to send the naked pictures in the
first place.

She said that
she and her cousin Rogelio Vera, who is a convicted felon, were in a
relationship while he was married to his ex-wife Lillian.

'He started with the flirting,' Ms Ross said at the hearing, which was recorded.

Threatening: David Katz, pictured, reportedly pressured Ms Ross to vote certain ways by hinting that he would distribute the pictures.

'I said, "Oh, c’mon. This is not right." He’s a first cousin. "This is not right. You’ve got to stop.”'

Ms Ross faced the criticism of her then-sister-in-law who found the pictures and send her 'mean, vicious' text messages.

'(Lillian
Vega) calls me. And she's "Oh, I can't believe you. I never thought
you'd do this." I said "Lillian, let this go,"' Ms Ross said in the
interview with authorities.

In
spite of her anger, Lillian Vega told investigators that she never made
copies of the pictures and she only saw them once when Rogelio showed
her.

Beyond detailing her romantic escapades with her cousin, which lasted a few months, the point of the hearing was to discuss how and when she was threatened by former commissioner David Katz.

The clearest hint that Mr Katz was aware of the images was when he said at a meeting in September that multiple government agencies were investigation 'transmittal of messages and pictures between elected officials and convicted felons'.

On top of that, he used the threat as a way to scare her into voting for an friend of his to get a job: 'Whatever consequences they’re concerned with if they vote in favor of his appointment, they will pale into insignificance as to the ones that would come otherwise,' he said.

Her troubles with Mr Katz dated back to even before the pictures were taken, when in 2007 she mentioned she was in a rough patch with her then-boyfriend and Mr Katz responded by saying that he 'knew someone who would take care of it'.

The state attorney has since ruled that he was inappropriately lobbying Ms Ross on at least one of the three occasions that she cited as evidence, though Mr Katz denies the charge.

'This is laughable at best. There’s nothing to blackmail her over. That’s ridiculous,' he told The Palm Beach Post.